BULL, John (Bull John)

(1563-1628) One of the greatest composers of the Elizabethan era. Born in 1563 in the county of Somerset. After training at the Royal Chapel was appointed organist of the cathedral Herifordskogo (1582), in 1585 - regent children's choir of the Royal Chapel, and in 1591 became the organist in the chapel of personal queen. In her instructions was sent to a professor of music at Gresham College (1596), after his marriage in 1607, following school rules, resigned. In 1611 served as a musician at the court of the Prince of Wales. Soon he moved to Belgium, where he earned a place in the chapel organist at the beginning of the Archduke in Brussels (1613), and then in Antwerp Cathedral (1617). In Belgium, Bull met with J. Sweelinck. Both contributed significantly to the development of polyphonic music for keyboard instruments. Bull owns more than 200 compositions for organ, and voice verdzhinela. Many of them are incredibly complex technically: the general view, the composer himself could do them, just having virtuosity. Bull died in Antwerp, March 13, 1628.